A JURY yesterday returned a verdict of suicide in the case of a 14-year-old boy who died in his home shortly before Christmas.
The inquest, held in Killarney, heard that the teenager was "very outgoing".
His mother found him at 10.15pm on December 16th, 2007, in an unconscious state in the en suite bathroom of his bedroom when she went upstairs to check on him. Both parents and some of the boy's siblings were in the house at the time in what had been a regular Sunday for the family, the inquest heard.
In her deposition, the boy's mother, who sat distraught while it was read out, said her son was "a regular happy-go-lucky boy and very outgoing". That Sunday "was no different to any other for our family", she said.
She and the boy's father tried to revive him, as did ambulance paramedics. CPR was discontinued at 11.30pm on the advice of the doctor and the body was removed to Kerry General Hospital. A toxicology report from the postmortem showed no traces of alcohol or drugs. The deceased had left a suicide note, the family confirmed to the inquest.
The medical cause of death was found to be asphyxia. There were no findings of ill health.
The seven-man jury retired to consider its verdict, returning to give a verdict of suicide in accordance with the medical evidence.
Coroner Terence Casey said suicide was "one of the hardest things for families to deal with". There had been "exceptional support" for the family by young people who knew the deceased. It was very unfortunate and unexplainable that a young person so healthy would take their own life, Mr Casey said. He thanked the medical team for its efforts.
Offering the sympathy of the Garda, Supt Michael Maher said he knew the young man had come from a very caring and loving home. Jury foreman Niall O'Callaghan also extended his deepest sympathy to the family.